No Teenager Had Ever Run That Fast

June 24, 2022 7:22 AM

People often ask [Erriyon Knighton] whether he wants to be the next Usain Bolt. The comparison is an honor, Knighton said, but, no, he doesn’t want to be the next Bolt. He wants to be the best version of himself. “I didn’t grow up with his name; I grew up with my name,” Knighton said. from This Teen Already Broke Some of Usain Bolt’s Records. He’s Getting Faster [NYT]

This Kid Is Changing Everything! || 18-Year-Old Erriyon Knighton Is Making History
The next Usain Bolt? Erriyon Knighton isn’t scared by comparisons and expectations
Erriyon Knighton's World Athletics profile
Erriyon Knighton's Instagram

posted by chavenet (5 comments total)

This is a terrific story and I'm embarrassed that I live just an hour from there and had never heard of him before.

It's really unfathomable what he (and other elite sprinters) do. I ran the 200 in HS and while I was OK -- didn't finish first, didn't finish last -- if I ran with these guys, they'd beat me by 40 yards. And then you look at the margins between these elite sprinters and it's a half-second from first to off the podium. Of course, we know that, from watching swimming, racing, etc. in the Olympics...

Where that leads me, I guess, is just how fragile it is. These sprinters will practice their starts and run the distances thousands and thousands times a year, trying to come up to vertical a bit more quickly, extend their stride to the optimal length, build power and efficiency-- and knowing all the while that one Achilles or hamstring tear and they may never get it back, let alone get better.

Sounds like this young man has good people around him, with a long-term plan to help him stay healthy and succeed. I'm hoping for the best for him.

BTW, great post; sorry it's not getting more love as we're all obsessed with the Court ruling. Thanks for sharing.
posted by martin q blank at 11:00 AM on June 24, 2022 [5 favorites]

Next level running indeed!!! Keeping an eye on the USATF Championships this weekend...
posted by lemonade at 12:01 PM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Good for him that he got into track and field. There must be some football coaches in FL that are weeping in frustration.
posted by Ber at 12:27 PM on June 24, 2022 [3 favorites]

I hope some corporate sponsored coaching program doesn't take over his training and ruin his body, running, and soul, like what happened to that really fast girl runner.
posted by eye of newt at 4:11 PM on June 24, 2022 [3 favorites]

good luck to him! I enjoyed the you tube video particularly, because I always love hearing/reading a really good explanation of something I know nothing about. Having someone breakdown exactly what makes it so impressive, and what is involved in being able to do something like this at an expert level.
posted by EllaEm at 5:48 AM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]